Staff
At least the Muskie boys’ hockey team ended the old year on a good note.
Four different snipers bulged the twine Wednesday as Fort High earned a 4-1 over the Fargo North Spartans (N.D.) in their final game at the Ralph Engelstad Classic in Thief River Falls, Mn.
Hunter Koles, Matt Cheetham, Chase McGuire, and Tyler VanUden each scored for the Muskies, who finished the event with a 1-2 record.
On Tuesday, the Muskies fell 6-2 to the Crookston Pirates.
Graeme Kitt netted both goals for Fort High.
The Muskies had been scheduled to face the St. Paul’s Crusaders (Winnipeg) in a three-game exhibition series starting tonight, but that game was cancelled.
Instead, the teams will hook up tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. at the ’52 Canadians Arena, then clash again Sunday at 11:30 a.m. to the Emo Arena.
While it’s uncertain which of St. Paul’s two varsity teams will be making the trip here, either one should provide a stiff challenge for Fort High.
St. Paul’s #1 sits in first place in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League’s Platinum Promotions Division with an 11-1-0-1 record while St. Paul’s #2 is in third place in the Winnipeg Free Press Division at 9-3.
The Crusaders knocked the Muskies out of the Boston Pizza Piper Classic Tournament of Champions in Winnipeg exactly a year this ago this weekend with a 3-2 victory in the quarter-finals.
But Fort High then downed St. Paul’s 5-2 at the Dryden Eagles’ home tournament back in late November to earn some payback.
Girls lose
The Muskie girls’ hockey squad, meanwhile, was unable to generate much offence against the East Ridge Raptors (Woodbury, Mn.) in falling 2-1 yesterday in their opening game at the annual Schwan Cup tournament in Blaine.
Playing in the Girls Varsity Blue division, Fort High got on the board first when Amy Penner and Jessica Coran set up Annalise Hayes at 4:29 of the first.
But that was the last mistake Raptors’ goalie Chole Heiting would make as she was perfect from then on while facing only 12 more shots.
Braeden Yeo tied it for East Ridge at 5:09 of the second against Muskie goalie Kate Parsons, who recorded 19 saves.
Then 1:56 later, with Penner in the box for tripping, Grace Heiting cashed in for the game-winner.
The Muskies are back on the ice today at 4:15 p.m. against the Spring Lake Park Panthers, then will close out play tomorrow at 2 p.m. versus the North Metro Blazers (Oak Grove, Mn.)
There is no playoff round in the tournament.
The Muskie girls’ next home game is Jan. 12 in the second half of their annual home-and-home exhibition series against the International Falls Broncos.
